GIRL POWER OCTOBER 2013 | Page 5

“Don’t pressure yourself.” As someone who has already found her calling in life and is making such a huge impact, what advice would you give to teens who haven’t found their “sparkle” yet or that one thing they are good at and love to do? how are you surpassing them? I think the main thing is that being a writer isn’t a career that is “NEEDED” in society. It’s not like someone who purifies water or is a doctor or a teacher. It isn’t technically one of life’s necessities Don’t “look” for the answers of we could live without it. I who you’re supposed to be. had to get past that and Some people just haven’t realize that literature is a realized it yet. Give yourself significant part of our lives time to flourish and explore the and that you can make a world. Don’t pressure yourself - living off of it because one day, it’ll just “hit” you. people have a budget for art. Another thing, especially What are some of the biggest after releasing my book, obstacles you have faced or was dealing with feedback. are still facing throughout The hardest was from your career as an author and friends and family, but then there were also people that would attack on the book because of its controversial subject. Their attacks often reverted to personal insults and it was hard to take. Eventually, I guess you have to realize that you can’t please everyone. How have you obtained the self confidence it takes to become an author? This is one I’m still learning and I’ll admit that. Self promotion takes a lot of guts and a bit of an ego.